Weekly Mail

-tfcdiltr MM. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1904. The" WEEKLY MAIL is published en Fridays and Saturdays, and can be obtained from your local newsagent' If you find any difficulty in obtaining the paper, please communicate icith the Manaqer, JVtstern Mail Offices, Cardiff. The Weekly Mail" will he sent by post on payment of a subscription in advance on the folloicing terms;- s- a. One Quarter 1 8 Half Year 3 3 'I One Year 6 6

A NATIONAL LOSS. Sir Isambard Owen's acceptance of the Principalship of the Durham School of Science is a national loss from which j Welsh education will suffer for many years to come. For the last fifteen years Sir Isambard has been the most con- spicuous figure in connection with the work of education in the Principality, and it is impossible for the public at large to duly estimate the value of his services in that direction. Those services have been all the more valuable because they sprang from the highest motives, and were rendered in the most ungrudging spirit. Sir Isambard is first and fore- most a patriot, and party, creed, or class, or gain are meaningless terms to him. All the great work he has done in con- nection with the Welsh University has been a labour of love, a sacrifice of time, money, and energy freely given. Scarcely less important have been his services to Welsh intermediate and elementary edu- cation. His presence at the University Court and the Central Welsh Board added dignity to those bodies, and his connec- tion with the national cause gave it an inspiration. His one wish is to see Wales an educated and cultured nation, having its foundation in itself, and deve- loped on its own lines. When he threw in his lot with the Utilisation of the Welsh Language Society the movement was given a most powerful impetus, and prominent educationists who had before stood aloof followed his example, and even Englishmen and Anglicised Welsh- men began to realise that the use of Welsh in the day schools was something better than a fad—was, in fact, a sound educational policy, ditcated by knowledge of methods obtaining in other bilingual countries and founded upon experience. To lose such a man from Wales is a i national loss, though we have the satis- faction of knowing that his new post will still allow him to remain in the counsels of the Welsh University Court. This is something to feel grateful for, but the pity of it is that Wales is not able to secure the whole and undivided services of one of its most gifted sons. Three generations ago Wales once before had the mortification of seeing a scholar and a patriot proceed North to serve the cause of education. He was Archdeacon Williams, who was the first headmaster of the High School at Edinburgh, and a. man whose fame as a scholar and teacher was European. The archdeacon, however, returned to his native heath and became first warden of Llandovery. May a pro- pitious Fate similarly guide the footsteps of the Son of Gwent!

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. South Wales from corner to corner was shocked this week by news of a! terrible railway accident on the greatest of our railway lines between Loughor and Llanelly. Happily, the number of lives lost is email—three—though the number of those injured, some of them very seriously, is very considerable— between forty and fifty. In reading the thrilling story of the catastrophe our readers, doubtless, will be astonished to learn that, instead of three, there should not have been at least three score killed outright. The train was very crowded and running at a great speed at the time, and the escape of so many men, women, and children under the circumstances which ensued was nothing short of miraculous. The behaviour of the passengers on the occasion was most exemplary, willing helpers on all hands vieing with each other in rescuing the injured from the wreckage and render- ing first-aid pending the arrival of medical men from the surrounding dis- tricts. A Cardiff professor, an unknown ) doctor, a couple of trained nurses, some i brave soldiers-to single out a few from a host of others—performed wonders in an incredibly brief interval, so that by the time the doctors arrived the spot had assumed the appearance of an open air hospital. As to the cause of the accident various opinions are hazarded, but up to the time of writing nothing < authoritative has been stated. The Board of Trade has already instituted an inquiry, and every effort will be made to arrive at the real cause. If it is found that it was due to any negligence on the part of officials or to any defect in the arrangements, the assessor will, no doubt, deem it his duty to make the fact public. It is only fair to state that! the Great Western Railway Company are everywhere showing commendable; anxiety to study, not only the safety, but, the comfort also of the travelling public, i with the result that accidents are few I and far between on their lines, extensive though their ramifications are. With ] the exception of the mishap which; occurred at Pontypridd some time ago, this at Loughor is the only serious aeci- dent which South Wales and Monmouth- shire has known for many years. Con- sidering that the population is fast! increasing, that the public utilise the' railways more and more every year, that engines run at greater speed continually, and that crowded trains are of almost daily occurrenoe, the public may well congratulate themselves on the fact that the number of lives sacrificed in railway travelling is so small. Accidents of a more or less serious character are in the nature of things occasionally unavoid- able; but we may rest assured, thanks | to the solicitude and care of railway I companies and their officials to avoid mishaps, that the number of them is kept ¡' at a minimum.

EDIBLE SEAWEED. I Seaweed is need as an article of diet in Cornwall and certain parte of Ireland, prin- cipally in the form of sauces; strengthening jelliea for invalids are made from it, and it is a noticeable feature in those who use sea- weed that their blood is remarkably pure, and they are almost free from ailments of the kidneys and stomach. Veno's Seaweed Tonic is the standard medicinal preparation of seaweed, and as such is recommended by doctors.* It "possesses extraordinary streng- thening, purifying, and healing properties in diseases of the stomach, liver, kidneys, and blood; especially successful in female weak- ness and habitual constipation. Pleasant to take. Cures permanently. No return. Ask for Veno's Seaweed Tonic; 1ft.! and 2/9, at chemista everywhere. w591

■—a——mm—mam —1 11 LONDON LETTER. A COLUMN OF INTEREST TO ALL OUR READERS. LONDON, Thursday. "The noblest Roman of them all." Such was Sir William Harcourt, whose sudden death has caused so great a shock throughout all circles. He had been in failing health for months past. Last session his visits to Parliament were rare owing to this cause, but no one, not even his own immediate family, regarded his illness as serious, and the fact that his only son was an absentee from Nuneham at the time of his death is evidence of the tragic suddenness of the end. Towards the close of last session Sir William left the corner seat on the Front Opposition Bench, where he and Mr. John Morley went after their sensational resignation, 1 and sat next Sir Henry Campbell-Banner- man. But this was more for companion- ship than leadership, for it was generally recognised that the once great fighter was no more a Parliamentary factor to be reckoned with. Sir WTilliain, though a fierce political opponent, was in private life the most lovable of men. He was popular on both sides of the House, a personal friend of every leader of note, and the friend and confidant of many a humble Commoner. Since the death of Mr. Gladstone Sir William had always seemed a very lonely figure. He and the great veteran chieftain were almost inseparable, and though Mr. John Morley in some slight degree made up for the loss, he could never fill the place of the companion of the fierce days of the eighties, and even earlier, in which Mr. Gladstone and Sir William were so great a factor. Though an aristocrat to his finger tips, a direct descendant of the Plantagenets, he was the most unassuming of men, and really very diffident of his great powers. TEAM PASSES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. A movement is on foot amongst the Labour members of the London County Council to obtain free passes on the council's trams for parties of children in the council's schools. Similar facilities will be asked for from the tramway com- panies not under the jurisdiction of the council. The movement is being vigorously opposed, and I more than fancy that it will be unsuccessful. No parallel can be drawn between granting passes to the children and cheap fares for working men. and the promoters will have to show far better cause than they have done before their proposals can be seriously con- sidered. What with the suggestion to givo free meals to the children in the public schools, this new movement would indicate a desire on the part of some popu- larity-seeking individuals to place the maintenance of all children on the rates. MIXED POLITICS IN THANET. A significant feature about the Thanet election is the fact that a section of the licensed victuallers have followed the example of the Church of England clergy- men and the Jewish rabbis in supporting the candidature of Mr. King as against that of Mr. Harry Marks. Feeling is, indeed, intense, and this week the constituency will be the scene of many an exciting meeting. Mr. Marks is not gaining additional support, but he certainly has a large following. A num- ber of Radical electioneers who have returned to town for a brief space have not felt justified in predicting his defeat. There does, however, appear to be less enthusiasm amongst the Conservatives than at the commencement of the election, and many of those who at the outset were confident and content to adopt a policy of abstention now believe that unless they take an active part in opposing Mr. Marks he may be returned at the head of the poll. SARTOBIAL REFORM. The attempt to reform the present style of evening dress is making considerable progress. One gentleman, greatly daring, appeared at the St. James's Theatre in knee-breeches and buckled shoes, but beyond being the observed of all observers his unconventional attire has caused no ripple on the sartorial pond. The move- ment has not the support of the Court, and this in itself is fatal; and, in the second place, it does not seem to be generally popular. Attempts to modify the present costume by means of velvet collars and coloured waistcoats have in the past failed, and unless this movement is more vigorously taken up than at present similar failure seems certain. A PLEASANT STORY. The festive chauffeur plays such havoc amongst the cattle now and then that it is a treat to hear of his being scored off by a cow proprietor. My authority is the editor of the Bystander," who states that a dealer in motor-cars, halting at a village, made the acquaintance of a well- to-do farmer, who over a friendly drink evinced much interest in his new friend's automobile. The motor man, scenting a deal, took him for a drive, and, edging in his business bit by bit, finally offered him the vehicle at what he called rock-bottom price. Noa, noa, mister; I've enjoyed yer dinner, I've enjoyed yer drive," rejoined the farmer, but I'd rayther put the monev into cows." "But," quoth the motor man, "think how you would look riding into town on the back of one of your Jerseys." Ay, maybe I would look a bit foolish," smiled the farmer, "but just think how I'd be sized if I was caught trying to milk a motor-car! The motor man had no answer ready. FARMERS' TREK TO EAST AFRICA. News has reached town that those farmers who left the Transvaal after the war and trekked to East Africa are anxious to return. Many of them have already gone back, and confess to their friends that neither the country nor the climate suited them. The general condi- tions were altogether intolerable. They went to East Africa under the belief that they would be welcomed with open arms. They have now leamt their mis- take, and have had the wisdom to acknow- ledge it. If they do trek again it will not be to East Africa. It may, possibly, be to the Argentine,' but the probability is that they will seek once more the charms of their own country. IRISH AND HOME RULE. Before the House rose for the recess the Irish members were fully of opinion that the Unionist Government would give them a modified form of Home Rule. Upon what their, belief was based it was impossible to discover, and that it had no foundation in fact the Prime Minister's speech on Tuesday amply demonstrated. Mr. George Wyndham's letter to the Times on the" devolution proposals put forward on the part of the Irish Reform Association was the first blow to their hopes, and Mr. Balfour's speech fave them the coup de grace. The 'nionist members of the House of Commons will meet on the 22nd inst. to consider the proposals of the Irish re the suggestions of the Irish Reform Associa- tion, and their answer to these sugges- tions is not m doubt. Colonel Saunder- json will be in the chair. SCOTTISH CHURCH CRISIS. As there is no likelihood of the Church crisis in Scotland being settled amicably by negotiation, it is, I hear, the intention of the United Free Church to promote a Kill next session to bring about the neces- s;*ry settlement. The object of the Bill will be to give power to a two-thirds majority to administer the property of the Church. It is said that the project contemplates a measure drafted on lines si&uilar to those of the small Act of Par- liament passed in 1844 under the Ministry of Sir Robert Peel for the relief or security of csertain descendants of the old English Presbyterians who had changed from the Trinitarian creed of their ancestors to Socinianism. There are, I believe, many difficulties in the way of drafting a Bill on thesm lines, and it is, indeed, doubtful whether the members of the Free Church will 'be able to show sufficient cause why this ]p(recedent should be followed in their case. A full debate in Parliament should, howerrer, clear the way for further media- tion, -which may, probably, bring about a moch-flieeded settlement.

NEWS OF OUR COUNTRYMEN FROM HOME. UNITED STATES. WELL-KNOWN WELSHWOMAN'S DEATH IN JOHNSTOWN. A native of Dolgelly has passed away in Johnstown, Pa. She was Mrs. Catherine Wil- liams, and her death occurred at the house of her son, Mr. Cadwala-dr Williams. Mrs. Williams was 69 years of age. Previous to emigrating to America in 1901 she had lived in Llanuwchllyn and Bala. She was married to the Rev. David Jones, Baptist minister, and after his decease she become the wife of the Rev. Robert Williame, who was also a Baptist minister. NANTYGLO MAN'S DEATH. The death has occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, of Mr. W. J. Morgan. He was bora in Nanty- glo, Monmouthshire, but at an early age he left for America with his parents, who settled down in Pittsburg for a time. Mr. Morgan, jun., however, was not long before he went to Cleveland, where he set up a business as lithographer, in which he was very success- ful. In the Civil War he served as a soldier and officer, and during all his life was a prominent Republican. A MEMORABLE VOYAGE. Friends of Mr. David Roberts, BLaendyffryn, are mourning his death. He was one of those who crossed the Atlantic in 1353 in the sailing ship Col. Cuttis. He was 78 years of acre, a.nd before leaving Wales lived in Llanberls. Of the number that made the voyage in the Col. Cuttis onJy five are now alive. The vessel experienced a very stormy passage.

PATAGONIA. ANOTHER DISASTER IN THE WELSH SETTLEMENT. The River Samwy, in Patagonia, has again overflowed its banks and destroyed one ef the biggest dykes ill the settlement. A Welsh- man. Mr. John Humphreys, formerly of Cor- wen, writing of the disaster, states that at the time the flood was not no strong, but that telegrams from the Andes gave promise cf much more water. He warns Welshmen to b3 chary of emigrating to the" Wladfa until the district has ceased to be the natural bed of the great floods of the Andes." It is only continuous drought that can bring this about, but whenever this may be the prospects at present are very dismal.

LONDON. ESTABLISHMENT OF A WELSH CLUE. At a further meeting of the committee charged by the Pembroke Club and the Glamorgan Society in London with the task of considering the possibility of establishing a club in London for Welsh residents and visitors the question was carried forward another stage. The meeting decided to draw up for presentation to general meetings of the two institutions named a scheme based upon the more moderate proposals that have already been described in the "Western Mail." There were suggestions in favour of trying to raise £60,000 or more for the purpose of opening a large residential club on the lines of the National Liberal and Con- stitutional Clubs, but these were deemed to be out of the question at the present. The scheme to be recommended for acceptance is for the establishment of a club in a central part of the City at which there will be the usual reading and other rooms, and also a dining-hall. It is hoped that it will be possible to get a membership of 500 in town members at a subscription of £2 2s. each, and, say, 200 or 2.50 outrof-town members at a. subscription of £1 ls. each. The two societies will now be asked to take steps towards finding out what support that scheme would obtain, and for that purpose something in the nature of a prospectus will be drafted to be sent out to Welshmen in London, as well as to those in Wales likely to join as out-of-town members. An initial step, however, is that loo gentlemen should be asked to become guarantors to the extent of £5 each for the purpose of ensuring th.e initial expenses. After that a large meeting will be held to pass the necessary resolutions and to make the necessary appointments.

FARM FIRES AT BRECON CHARGE OF ALLEGED ARSON AGAINST A LABOURER. At Brecon County Polioe-court oil Tuesday James White (27), farm labourer, was brought up in custody on a charge of attempting to set fire to a farm building at Forest Lodge, the residence of Mr. W. y. Miller, J.P. Mr. D. T. Jeffreys prosecuted on behalf of the police. David Stone and James Price, labourers at Tymawr Farm, Glyn, deposed that prisoner was in their company at Glanrhyd Public- house on the night of the 23rd of September. After they left the house prisoner said, "You see, boys, if there isn't another fire a.t Forest Lodge," adding that the bobby couldn't catch the man, but he could. Questioned by the bench, Stone said that they had three pints of beer each at the public, and the prisoner had a glass of beer in front of him when he (witness) went in. Thomas Matthews, labourer, in the employ of Mr. Miller, stated that he had a conversa- tion with prisoner on the 25th of September. Prisoner asked him if he thought there was anyone watching the premises by night. Wit- ness replied that he did not think so. By the Bench: There has been a great deal of conversation amongst the men at Forest Lodge with regard to the fires. The prisoner was not the only one who had spoken to him on the subject. Mr. Hugh Llewellyn Griffiths, surveyor, Brecon, was called to prove the plans of the buildings at Forest Lodge. He said that for anyone to see the light in the barn from where Police-constable Dew and Gibson (who found the prisoner) were hiding, that light would have had to be at least five feet eleven inches above the ground because the walls between the watchers' hiding-place and the barn would eclipse any light below that height. The floor of the hay-loft was seven feet two inches. Samuel Gibson and Police-constable Dew repeated the evidence given by them at the first hearing of the case. They were watch- ing the premises on the night of the 25th of September, and about 10.30 Gibson saw a light in a barn. They searched the building, and found prisoner crouching down behind a wheelbarrow. Above the spot where they found him there was a piece of hay nearly the size of a man's hand protruding from the loft, which appeared to be newly burnt. Miss Nellie Miller deposed also to accom- panying Gibson to the barn, and after the prisoner was arrested finding some hay, newly burnt, protruding through the floor of the loft. They searched the floor of the building, but failed to discover any matches. Mrs. Miller was caUed to deny a statement made to the police by the prisoner to the effect that she had told him to look round the buildings whenever he came home late at night.—In reply to prisoner, Mrs. Miller said she did not tell him when at tea one day that if he looked round he would catch the men who had been setting fire to the place. Mr. Miller stated in evidence that White entered his employ about the end of May. He said he was a native of Oxfordshire, and had been working in Birmingham. White was a general labourer, and lived alone in one of the farm cottages. It was no part of his work to be in the building where he was found on the night of the 25tb of September. In that building there were about fifteen to twenty tons of old and new hay. He found a portion of hay about the size of a bird's nest newly burnt. The hay immediately adjoining it was musty and covered with cobwebs. Fires had taken place at Forest Lodge on June 26. July 30, August 29, and September 5. All the fires broke out about eleven at night. Prisoner's conduct while in witness's employ was good. The only fault he had was that he was too fond of drink. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next Brecon Assizes.

BAILIFF'S ADMISSION. A TWO GUINEA CLOCK SOLD FOR TWO SHILLINGS. At Ystrad County-court on Tuesday his Honour Judge Williams had to deal with a case in which .a certificated bailiff, named Abraham pickings, in cross-examination by Mr. D. Rees, solicitor, Pontypridd, made some remarkable admissions. He maintained that he had had a bona fide sale in executing a distress warrant levied on the goods of a. tenant on behalf of the landlord. It was sug- gested that Pickings had not conducted the sale at a convenient hour or at the time advertised by him. He denied these allega- tions, but admitted that he had sold, amongst other things, the following articles at the prioes indicatedOne square table, 6d.; five brass candlesticks, 5d.; two chairs, 6d.; one pair of pictures. 6d.; one couch, Is.; three pictures, 3d.; clock, 9d.; one armchair, 6d.; one regulator clock (which might, he admitted, be worth £2 56.), 2a; baby rocking chair, 3d.; fender, 2d.; washstand, 2d. He admitted, further, that these things might still be in tho tenant's house. I His Honour remarked that he would like to have the case adjourned, so as to get some further evidence. There were elements in this case which suggested a great deal, a.nd it might be that this man had abused his posi- tion, either in collusion with the tenant or for some other purpose. The case was adjourned for A month.

11&' oj- MR. CHAMBERLAIN IMPORTANT SPEECH AT LUTON. Mr. Chamberlain on Wednesday addressed a great meeting at Luton, in continuation of his fiscal campaigu. The right hon. gentleman,, accompanied by Mrs. Chamber- lain, left Birmingham in the afternoon for Woburn, where he is the guest of the Duke of Bedford. The meeting was in many respects a remarkable gathering on account of the keen interest excited all over the country in the political significance of the occasion, and the eager anxiety shown to be present was far in excess of Luton's custo- mary limits of accommodation. Special pro. vision was, however, made, at great expense, for a much larger audience than most pro- vincial towns could ordinarily accommodate. This was accomplished by erecting on the outskirts of the town a hall which contained nearly 7,000 persons, the vast majority of those present being provided with seats. The building of the hall for this single occasion cost between £3,000 and £4.00:1. The chair was occupied by the Duke cf Bedford, and on arriving on the platform the ex-Colonial Secretary, accompanied by Mrs. Chamber- lain, received a most enthusiastic welcome. Among those present were the Duchess of Bedford, the Duke and Duehests of Somerset, Lord Alwyne Gonipton, M.P., Sir Herbert Max- well, M.P.. Mr. Boscawen, M.P., and Sir Horace Tozer. Mr. Chamberlain on. rising •to address the vast audience was again received with pro- longed cheers and tiio singing of For he's a jolly good fellow." He said that a few days ago they heard with great regret that Sir Wm. Harcourt had passed away, and he did not like to allow that occasion to pass with- out saying 01108 or two words on thoa 10£13 which the country, had sustained. His acquaintance with Sir William quickly ripened into a great political intimacy and a great personal friendship that lasted for a long time; and then circumstances arose which be was sure that Sir William, as well as himself, had always since looked back upon with regret. Speaking for himself, those political differences, great as they were, never lessened his personal regard and respect for Sir Wm. Harcourt. (Cheers.) He was a great political figure. In his public life he spoke out the thoughts that were in him without fear and without favour, but in his private life he was charming and gracious. As to the fiscal question, he offered his proposals in the full and honest belief that they were for the good of the nation, and, abovo all, for the good of the masses of the people. (Cheers.) A LOCAL OBJECT-LESSON. In Luton they used to supply straw plaits for the whole world. Then foreigners made their own plaits, and next began sending their surplus manufactures here to Eng- land—the only market open to them. (Hear, hear.) In the last five yeara the export of English plaits to foreign countries had diminished 3D per ceat. What trade they had in Luton had only been savoo by our Colonies taking more. If our Colonies ceased to buy, then their trade would disappear. He, therefore, said to them: "Don't wait to put up your umbrella—put it I up now, before the worst of the storm is upon you." (Cheers.) What had become of the I million of people who had been lost to agri- culture? Some had gone to the workhouse, others had gone to America, and others had I migrated to the towns. flooding them with a surplus of under-paid labour. KR. CHAMBERLAIN'S REMEDY. Tho last resort of the free importers was to say that if we lost our primary trades there were still left the subsidiary trades—there were jam and pickles, for instance. (Laughter.) Well, even jam and pickles would not save the farmer. Now, his advice to all his agri- cultural friends was to put their horses together, and if they worked in future in double harness they would find that there would be very few people indeed who would not be ready to give attention to their grievance. His proposals were not extravagant or revo- lutionary. He proposed an import duty of ?s. a quarter upon corn, ard 5 per cent. upon all the other various products of the farm. This was not a tax; it was a toll. (Hear, I hear). The corporation of Luton had a market, and those who wanted to sell there I had to pay a toll to come into the market. J Just as people paid atoll to come into Luton Market, he wanted every foreigner who had goods to sell here to pay a toll also. 'Loud cheers.) The foreigner should contribute to the expense of keeping up and maintaining the greatest market in the world—the market of the United Kingdom. This was not Pro- tection, it was justice and commonsense. (Cheers.) The foreigner would pay. The other day a tax of Is. was put on corn. The price of bread did not change. Why- should a 2s. duty change the price? (A voice: "It does.") Indeed, he did not know there was a 2s. tax. (Laughter.) If the price of bread rose in consequence of a tax wbich was not put on, there was no miracle which Free Trade could not perform. (Cheers.) By such a proposal as he made the farmer would gain a trifle. More land would be brought into cultivation, and more labour would be employed. There were two kinds of taxation: there was the tax put upon articles in which there was no competition— j on articles which we could not produce our- selves. Such as this was the tax on tea, and the consumer had to pay every penny of it. But there were other articles in which there was great competition, and it was proved by all experience that it was the producer, the foreigner, who paid for the whole or part of the tax. (Hear, hear.) He simply wanted to shift the taxation from one article to another. How could that po?sibly injure anyone? If a workman saved a little on tea and tobacco, he could give it to his wife to buy bread; it was only changing from one class of taxation to a different class, and had this advantage: that while in the first class they paid for everything themselves, in the second class be hoped to get a small contri- bution from the foreigner. (Cheers.) It was for the working classes of this country to decide. They might elect to stay in the old rut, or try something new; they mig remain stationary while the world pro- gressed, or they might co-operate with him in the policy which all the world had adopted, after considerable experience, as being the way to secure the greatest happi- ness to the greatest number. The other branch of the question, and the more impor- tant, was that of our relations with the Colonies. (Cheers.) THE PREMIER'S MOVE. I Mr. Balfour's speech at Edinburgh marked a stage in this greet con- troversy. Mr. Balfour repudiated the name of Protectionist. He (Mr. Chamberlain) also repudiated it. He had no more idea of going back to the Protection of fifty years ago than to the Free Trade of that age. They were both antiquated. Mr. Balfour desired a free hand to deal with hostile tariffs and unfair competition caused by the dumping of foreign goods below cost tariffs and unfair competition caused by the dumping of foreign goods below cost value. To make the foreigner contribute I something to our expenses need not raLe the cost to the consumer. If the changes in the tariff which Mr. Balfour and himself pro- posed were made, there was no reason why British manufacturers should not produce in larger quantities and the cost of things be cheaper. On Monday Mr. Baifour went further than he did at Sheffield. Ee dealt with the question of procedure, and said that if returned to power at the next election he would at once call an Imperial conference with representatives of the Colonies and of India, to ascertain whether the Colonies really desired commercial union, to them and to us. There was only one point—probably a point of tactics—in Mr. Balfour's speech which ho hoped he (Mr. Balfour) would be ready to consider. If we expected the Coloniea to come to the conference with us, they would expect from us that we should give to them the usual terms and conditions whenever such conferences had been held. There was not a single case in our whole history in which, when we had entered on negotiations with foreign countries or with the Colonies, it had not been an understood thing that if they came to an agreement that agreement should at once be submitted to the Legislatures of the separate States concerned. It was reasonable that it should be so. Mr. Balfour, however, seemed to consider it might be necessary to take a second election. He could not understand what was the necessity of a seoond plebiscite involving two man- dates, two general elections on the same subject coming within a few months one of the other. That would be very inconvenient and unpopular. It would be most serious if, after coming to an agreement, they were to postpone the matter until every Legislature in every one of our Colonies and at home had been re-elected for this particular pur- pose of carrying out the agreement, the principle of which had been pre- viously accepted. How long was it going to take? The result would be delay, Delay might mean the introduction of some new issue, and if that part of the scheme were to be insisted upon he thought the Colonies would be justified in accusing us of insincerity. That was the only blemish he saw in the plan, which in all other respects he heartily welcomed, and which he believed marked a great advance in the programme of the Unionistparty. (Cheers.)

THEATRE ROYAL, CARDIFF. "The Country Girl" Company will appear at the Theatre Royal, Cardiff, on Monday next for six nights and a matinee. The piece is fall of bright, refined comedy and charming musical numbers. Any detail of the plot—and Mr. Tanner's story is acknow- ledged to be more clear, and precise, and rational than in many other pieces of this kind—would be superfluous. The company includes Mr. Harry Buss. Mr. Francis Lud- low, Mr. Fred Pattrick, Mr. Harry Morton. Miss Rosie Begarnie, Miss Kathryn Comber, and Miss Nellie Cozens, who successfully played the principal "boy" in last year's pantomime at the Theatre Royal.

HAULIERS' WAGES IN SOUTH WALES. A meeting of the Coal Conciliation Board for South Wales and Monmouthshire was held at the Engineers' Institute, Cardiff, on Friday, for the purpose of dealing with a long agenda of local disputes, and also with the hauliers' wages proposals of the work- men's side. The joint conference opened at two p.m., and the disputes then entered into comprised reports and complaints from owners, as well as workmen. The sitting was an exceedingly lengthy one, and was not brought to a close until nearly half-pa8t seven. The most important matter cn the agenda, The mcst important matter cn the agenda, however, was the "case" made out by the workmen's representatives for a revision of the wages of the hauliers of the whole coal- field. It had been understood that the employers would be prepared to consider the matter whenever the men's side had a written "caps" prepared. That case had been ready for two months or more, but there had been no joint meeting-hence the delay. The work- men's representatives, through "Mabon," now placed the matter very strongly before the employers, and urged the appoint- ment of a small committee to go into the matter. After two adjourn-! ments to separate rooms, the employers' rc- preventatives promised to go into the matter themselves, without pledging themselves to the appointment of a sub-committee or any other course, and to give full weight to the demand put forward by Mabon," supported as he was by other leaders. It should be added that Mrs. F. L. Davis is very ill, and Mr. Davis will, therefore, not be able to attend the meeting's for the next two or three months owing to absence abroa.d. -OFFICIAL REPORT. At the close of the proceedings Mr. W. Gas- ooyne Dalziel supplied the following official report: A meeting of the Board of Conciliation for the Coal Trade of South Wales and Monmouthshire was held at qardiff on Fri- day. Mr. T. H. Deakin presided over the owners' representatives (in the absence of Mr F. L. Davis), and Mr. W. Abraham, M.P., presided over the workmen. The whole of the day was occupied in considering a num- ber of disputes at the associated col- lieries, and in most instances, after hearing the statement of the facts on behalf of the owners and workmen, two representatives were appointed to make further inquiry with a view to arriving at a settlement.

LEWI S-MERTH YR COLLIERY SETTLEMENT. The feeling of satisfaction in the lower part of the Rliendda ait the settlement of the non- Unionist difficulty is very prevalent, and although a few men have abstained from joining the organisation it is felt that the stoppage of the colliery was too great a sacri- fice for the sake of two men. for there are only two "obstinate" non-Unionists left. This was the view taken by Mr. D. Watts Morgan when he addressed the meeting on Thursday morning. Mr. Watte Morgan pointed out it would be not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength, to abstain from pushing the matter to a stoppage of the colliery under the circumstances. He strongly urged the minority of the workmen (who were known to be against the withdrawal of the notices) to agree gracefully to the course suggested. It was after this that communications with the management were opened up and the very satisfactory settlement mentioned in yester- day's "Western Mail" was arrived at.

HIRWAIN STRIKE LOSSES REACH £ 45,000. Over 200 workmen have been seeking employ- ment at the Eirwain Collieries, and most of them have been re-engaged, and coal is expected to be produced at the Tower Colliery at the end of this week. The Aberdare-Mer- thyr Colliery is in a worse state, and cannot be put in full working order f>r some time, The following estimation is made showing the loss sustained through the effects of the Hir- wain strike:—Loss to the Federation and dis- trict, £ 6,000; to Lord Bate. between £3,000 and £4,000; loss of wages to the workmen, £ 55,000.

MINERS' ALLOWANCES. A mass meeting of the wc.'kmen at the Glamorgan Collieries, Llwynypia, was held at the Hippodrome on Saturday to consider the situation which has arisen through the management reducing the allowances to be paid the men below that which is regarded as the standard rate of payment. To avoid such contingencies in the future, Mr. D. Watts Morgan advised the workmen to c-owe to a definite understanding with the officials, in the absence of a recognised price list, as to the rate at which they would be individually paid prior to measuring twice. It was ultimately arranged, at the sugges- tion of Mr. Morgan, that the men affected should meet and report their grievances to the lod^e committee next Wednesday, with a view to deciding what further action might be taken.

NON-UNIONISTS AT YNYSYBWL. The men employed at the Lady Windsor Pits of the Ocean Coal Company (Limited), Cardiff, in the upper seams handed in their notices to the agent (Mr. Edward Jones, M.E.) on Saturday, to terminate contracts at the expiration of the present month, as a protest to the non-Unionists who are amongst their number working at the colliery.

TROUBLE AT MAESTEG. Th. workmen engaged at three important Maesteg collieries have given notice owing to the employment of alleged non-Unionists. These pits are the Caerau Colliery, where 1,200 men are engaged; the Coednant Colliery, with 1,000 employes; and the Maesteg Deep Colliery, where the men number about 350. All the three pits belong to North's Naviga- tion Company, to whom notices were tendered on Saturday to terminate contracts in a month's time. The locomotive men employed by the same company have also tendered notices.

COLLIERS' MEiETING AT ABER- SYCHAN. A mass meeting of the workmen employed at the Blaensychan and Llanerch Collieries was held at Abersychan on Monday, when Mr. Winstone, the men's agent, reported a settlement of the "tram-marking" dispute, the management consenting to return to the old custom of one number for each man.

SCOTTISH COAL CRISIS. CONCILIATION BOARD MEETS: MASTERS' PROPOSALS. The meeting of the Scotch Coal Conciliation Board convened for the purpose of arriving at a new wages agreement was held in Glas- gow on Monday, when there was a full atten- dance of members. After a discngpion the meeting adjourned with a view of permitting the miners' dele- gates to place certain proposals submitted by the coalowners before their constituents. No details were furnished to the press in the official minute, which intimated that the board would again eit on October 21.

WELSH TIN-PLATE TRADE. DIFFICULTY AT GROVESEND WORKS. A dispute is pending at present at the Grovesend Works, Gorseinon, with regard to compensation alleged to be due to a work- man, and 28 days' notices have been given to either side to terminate contracts.

ABERDARE COMPENSATION CASES. At Aberdare on Wednesday Ernest Vaughan, haulier, Aberaman, sued the Powell Duffryn Company for compensation. The plaintiff sustained an injury to the spine whilst in the defendant company's employ.— The Judge awarded Vaughan £ 1 per week compensation from October 22 to November 23, during which time the plaintiff was laid up as the result of the accident.—Mr. John Sankey was for the applicant, and Mr. Charles Kenshole defended. At the same court D. W. James, collier, of Aberdare, applied for an order to secure from Messrs. The Powell Duffryn Company the difference between his present earnings and those which he made prior to an accident with which he met I,n September 2, 1903, while working as a collier at the defendant company's pit. Mr. John Sankey, barrister-at-law, appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Charles Kenshole defended.—His Honour granted the order applied for, the amount being 9e. 3d. per week, with costs on Scale B. _)

I Fels-Naptha A fact is like a stone wall; a pretty hard thing to butt your head against. Go by the book. If you don't, it isn't the fer ¡ that gets hurt. F^s-Naptiut.39 *7X1&0 tmot LobJos IS ?

WEEK BY WEEK LIGHTER SIDE OF CUltRE>"1 EVENTS. Sir Isambard Owen, who has become prin- cipal of the Durham College of refused the principalship of the Cardiff LB* versity College when it was offered him on the death of Mr. Viriamu Jones. At that tiff' however, Sir Isambard had no thought 0 abandoning medicine. Which is the strongest Nonconformist bo<if in Wales? According to the Rev. iuvet/ LeWiØo who is a Congregationalist, the figures are;- Congregationalists, 146,225; Calvinistic dists, 144,523; Baptists, 113,597. The number only 47,515. Will the otner religi° bodies accept these figures? If, as everybody hopes, Sir Isambard retains his connection with the University Wales, there will be this curious fact—« the deputy-chancenors will be oincials other universities. The senior—Sir Isaffil^j —ia now principal of the Durham College Science, and the junior—Dr. R. D. Roberta is registrar for the University of London. It is understood that a proposition will b8 made at an early meeting of the countS council of Glamorgan thac teachers of county who attend the course of lectures 111 school hygiene at the University College. C# difi, and are awarded a certificate, their salaries advanced to the extent of per annum. Cynlas, the letting of which is to take this v/eek by public auction, belongs to R. J. Lloyd-Price, of Rhiwlas, Merio»e shire. It is situated about three miles the town of Bala, and was the home of late Mr. Thomas E. Ellis, the Chief Libe Whip. During the last half a century las has been farmed by Mr! Thomas EU13 father, who is about, to retire. Dr. Torrey has no hesitation in answeri11^ the question: Why does not the working IIla 11 go to church? He said:—"We need chuf members on fire. The strangers visiting 0 churches then would not be to (*ea1,> Why does not the working man go-to ciiurC Why? Because he does not line a re^rlr,]j rator! If the working man found the man all aglow with love to God and man come to church fast enough." An afternoon service is a trial im the fleSh, and the prea.cher who opened at Chapel, Cardiff, on Sunday afternoon Pr^t. for the power to keep awake. The Towyn Jones was the special preacher, he spoke like one inspired, and seffit out occasional flash of humour. Midway in sermon "Towyn" cast his eye round 1 chapel and said: I see some of you almost asleep. Hold the fort for a bit!" j an eye blinked after that, and not a nodded. t There are many dogs in Wales that do o understand English. A correspondent wrljLk to the "Westminster Gazette":—"Only a wee ago, at Ogwen, at the head of Nant Ffrancc I watched half-a-dozen farmers driving in 1 > mountain sheep from Tryfan and abOl1 Idwal Lake, at the foot of the Devil's Kitchen where Mr. Hudson lost his life. All the tions to the dogs were shouted in Welsh, a one of the shepherds told me that they all Welsh-speaking' dogs, and that would be meaningless to them." A West Wales correspondent sends a stOtt of a parish clerk in the days of long v&l when the version of the Psalms was us instead of hymns. The worthy clerk always puzzled by the Latin letters U* instead of numbers, and trfcd usually to bI coached beforehand. On one occasion, bo ever, he had forgotten his instruction and, having to give out the sixty-seveB Psalm, electrified the congregation by asl^0<| them to iring to the praise and glory of "the L. X. V. and two-eyed Psalm"! It takes a great deal to ruffle Mr. Rees, the Swansea divisional superintends of the Great Western Railway. After hours of sleeplessness he was as bland urbane as ever at Loughor on Tuesday af^ noon, hia face wreathed in the Se??ef smile which makes him liked by the servants of the company. He was, too, a ag his day and night of ceaseless labour, spickand span as he always ia under or nary circumstances, except that his cOlla would not have done credit to a corner-b Mr. Rees has ever a kindly feeling for ne fJ paper men, whose difficulty in gleaning facts of such a catastrophe as that Loughor he quite appreciates. Those present at the Grand Theatre, sea, on Saturday night last state that tJJ never heard more impressive singing tB that spontaneously indulged in by crowded house assembled to see Sir Heo Irving. It broke out during the interva between the acts. Sir Henry was evi^e°e, profoundly impressed, and was sorry one stopped the singing when he came out the finish. The chief hymns sung wef; 'Diadem" and Dr. Parry's "Aberystwyth. Tho* words, Lead, kindly Light, amid t» encircling gloom," exactly described tj> scene on the stage during the last act of tP "Bells." There was a Saturday audience present from the colliery district, and tb accounted for the unusual circumstance. SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT. He laid his dinted brand aside, He left the turmoil and the fret. And in his sleep he calmly died- The sturdy old Plantagenet. Historicus "—St. Stephen's ne'er Shall see his stately form again. Such veterans we ill can epare- We mark the parting hour with They go, the great; but those who strit8 To follow in their mighty wake Can keep the noble traits alive That do our best traditions make- The purpose deep and broad and true. The honeat aim, the conscience cl The goal set ever full in view, The high resolve that knows no fear. t1 IDRlS A weekly paper gives an excellent examjjJ^ to show how English looks in a Welsh Thus:—"Pwr Pa got a gloriws Satbe^i0(j twgedder yn the Happy Valley at Llandu dhe other day. Dhe Beawtews Bardlet c not get dhe idea owt off hys nwddle dhat dhe ffolks whw go to Wish watering PP -gfld talk nodhing bwt Cymric. Sw he organ1 .j an Eisteddfod on hys own! Dhis was very well, but Joe Perry had a wword rd say on dhe subject, and wwhen dhe A Llys Llwpr made hys appearance a pproceeded to give an imitation of a e horn yn double consonants tw dhe tune j owld cww died of. dhe natty nigger trwpc to ppluck hym off hys pperch and ssit on manly chest. Now, look you. Pa is with a bbad ssore thwrat, and is as hoe. as a ccrow! Yes, inteet." » +ha' It is related in the Easy Chair during Mr. Chamberlain's visit to Car last November the usual erowd had gatbe^ along the route leading to the hall wbere..cy. statesman was to disseminate his fiscal pol1 A bucolic-booking individual accosted 116 gentleman in the crowd and asked what t r. people were waiting for. "Oh, to se<L,Jat! Chamberlain," said the gentleman. The gardener?" asked the yokel. "Garde°^,f No, the politician—the famous j, you know." "Is his name Joseph ,e(j lain?" next asked the yokel. "Yes," TfP 'j(f the gentleman. "Then you're wrong.' the yokel, impressively. "Joe Chamber ain't a politician. He's a gardener; clever gardener what lives in BirminS Haven't you heard about his orchid-? ing? Why, everyone knows as Charnberia the finest orchid-grower in the country! In the October number of "Perl y Canon Camber-Williams tells a story a the sagacity of Buller, a dog belonging Vicar of Wiston, Pembrokeshire. Some j,, ago the canon held a mission in the P*v and in an address to the Sunday Scb^ eCuF urged the desirability of boy and girl JLue' ing an additional scholar to attend. ced always attended Sunday Sohool, and ev^i g great delight in going there, t&« patiently under one of the seats untIl fter- last amen was said. On the Sunday a }it. noon following the mission the ReV'cf Sewell and Mrs. Seweil missed the dog, ^jji# had hitherto been very prompt in ;L,gl 1 for the Sunday School. They accora went without him, and the opening was duly gone through. Ten minutes wards all present were convulsed with t" ter, for, with head erect, Buller wal* ^10" slowly, bringing with him two mIser d i* looking mongrels. The three dogs sto tJJ' the middle of the school for a while, *> ^o parish clerk forcibly ejected geefi strangers, and they have not been since, nor did anyone know where they ^i" from. Certain it is that Buller will not act the part of attendance officer. <1" Tuesday's railway accident occurred 0t the "St. James' Gazette") on a vc*1! line over which, once upon a time, tn a good deal of fighting between companies. There used to exist f'V •«* system, the Llanelly Company, wni_ eaten up by greater companies. J* companies jointly took over the Lia agSe. Llandilo scction; another portion ye into the keeping of one company. there another to the second concern, was a complicated arrangement wbe ^tlJ absorbing corporations, running a. otbes over the joint lines, agreed to let ea rtio^ have running powers over those V -pfv which had become their individt tjjii perties. The links between tho sec taken over were not of uniform ga1:1¡ndi)O somehow it fell out that between tb1' and Llandilo Bridge there exlS „oSSessi0^ quarters of a mile of road whose P jjjle brought about a law-suit. For a t was nobody's, albeit all who c0 y claiming it. Eventually one at rt along a train, which was balte tjje entrance to the disputed territ ^1 given permission, under protest, t P retutØ The same thing happened on t journey, and the case had to lawyers before it could 4